Monday, February 28, 2011

What is a Genetic Counselor and is one needed for Colorblindness.

A genetic counselor interprets a family's medical history to discover the chance of a disease recurrence or a disease occurrence. A genetic counselor needs a master of science in genetic counseling. They also must be good translators of genomes so people can understand them.  The job is to increase understanding of genetic diseases, to discuss options, and to explain risks.

Some people question whether a genetic counselor is needed for colorblindness. In my personal opinion, I think they should be consulted. If I were a parent, I would want to know what I was getting into, what kind of colorblindness they might have, and how to deal with it. Also, you might discover some hidden disorder that you were not aware of. Recessive disorders skip generations so you might be in for a surprise.

Genetic counseling info from http://www.genetichealth.com/resources_what_is_genetic_counseling.shtml

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